AT&T Sues Cox Communications For Patent Infringement

(Reuters) - AT&T <t.n> is suing Cox Communications for
infringing eight patents dealing with network quality after the
regional cable provider ignored its complaints about the issue
and made "billions" off of the technology, according to a new
lawsuit.

In the suit filed Friday in Delaware federal court against Cox
and more than 30 of its regional units, AT&T said that Cox
had been warned about the claims of patent infringement as far
back as 2009. It said Cox delayed negotiations and refused to
take a license for the technologies.

AT&T claims the patents were infringed in Cox's use and sale
of digital video recorders, set top boxes, Internet and telephone
systems, according to the lawsuit.

The patents relate to methods for improving the quality and
reducing the costs of telecommunications services, the suit said.

AT&T said in the suit that Cox was also inducing its
employees and subscribers to infringe.

"(Cox) generates billions of dollars in revenue every year
through its use of AT&T's technologies," the
telecommunications giant said, adding that the lawsuit is
necessary to prove AT&T is owed royalty payments for the
alleged unauthorized use of its inventions.

A representative from Cox said the company just learned of the
case and had no comment. Attorneys for AT&T also could not
immediately be reached.

AT&T is asking the court to declare Cox's infringement
"wilful and deliberate" and seeks unspecified damages. It also
wants the court to order Cox to pay a "compulsory, ongoing"
royalty to AT&T.